Transcripts
Jay Khosla: ‘Fires of recent years are forcing us to evolve — to rethink how we build’
“Too often we frame economic security and environmental stewardship as competing, as if we must choose between these imperatives.”
Inez Jabalpurwala: ‘Let’s set bigger tables, tell better narratives and have broader impact’
“This country gave my parents every opportunity to build a life and they, in turn, gave me every opportunity to thrive. That's what I want for every Canadian, whether Indigenous to our land, many generations here, or recently arrived. Good policy is a critical part of that.”
2025 Testimonial Dinner Awards — Read and watch all the speeches
Check out the inspirational addresses from honourees Anil Arora, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Marc-André Blanchard, Alfred Burgesson, Chief Crystal Smith and Steve Paikin
Alfred Burgesson: ‘To the young people, now more than ever, we need you’
“To the young people out there, now more than ever, we need you. The world needs your ideas, the world needs your energy, the word needs your talent, and the world needs your courage to act and to do things differently.”
Steve Paikin: ‘The thrill of exploration really has been quite a gift’
“That is what has been so wonderful about my job: the thrill of exploration, of learning something new every day.”
Elizabeth Dowdeswell: ‘I remain a stubborn, incurable optimist’
“I persist in believing that humans can, indeed, influence the course of events and make this world a better place. And I certainly know, deep in my being, that in this world of difference and indifference, Canadians have a special role to play.”
Let’s build a better Canada together. Whether you’re looking to support our mission by becoming a member, partnering with us on a project or sponsoring an event, your engagement helps drive informed, inclusive policy across the country.
Anil Arora: ‘Democracy thrives on understanding, not fear’
“Bad data leads to bad policy. Good data builds trust. And goodness knows we could all use a little more of that these days.”
Chief Crystal Smith: ‘Instead of managing poverty, we are now managing prosperity’
“Let’s build a bright and prosperous future for every Canadian and every Indigenous person that wants to be involved, because change never happens inside of our comfort zones, or the defensive zone.”
Marc-André Blanchard: ‘We need people invested in the kind of change they want to see’
“In today’s world, with this climate, this economy, this global uncertainty, the real breakthroughs, the ones that will shape the next generation, will come when both sectors, public and private, start truly collaborating.”
Premier Doug Ford: 2025 Canada Growth Summit — Full speech
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's full speech at the 2025 Canada Growth Summit
In the Barrels of the Earth: A poem by Maggie Burton
"In the barrels of the earth / where Have-Nots drown / the whales stop singing / music in liquid form / pulls you under / the spell of the circulating sea."
Dr. Anya Waite: ‘It is a time to build new pathways for Canadian research’
“Carbon dioxide removal, or CDR, is a critical activity to complement decarbonization, and because of its huge storage capacity, the ocean is the most likely place that this carbon can successfully be stored.”
Chief Mi’sel Joe: ‘You don’t always get what you want by pounding on someone’s desk’
“We are building our nation to be a strong community for the next seven generations to come and beyond.”
Laura Lee Langley: ‘Let’s be leaders who not only see the vision, but make it happen’
“What we do in public service is making decisions and giving advice that influences the lives of people. Public policy impacts everyone, and it is the foundation of who we are.”
